2009 H1N1 toll in the United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tabulated estimates of the toll the 2009 H1N1 pandemic took in the United States. The numbers are sobering and require no additional comments. The CDC tabulated the numbers through direct observation in 62 counties covering 13 metropolitan areas of 10 states, which were then extrapolated to the entire US Population. So without further ado, here is what the 2009 H1N1 pandemic did in the US.

Total Cases – 60,837,748 (yep, millions) which break down as such:

0-17 years – 19,501,004

18-64 years – 35,392,931

65+ years – 5,943,813

Hospitalizations – 274, 304 which break down as such:

0-17 years – 86,813

18-64 years – 160,229

65+ years – 27,263

Deaths – 12, 469 which break down as such:

0-17 years – 1,282

18-64 years – 9,565

65+ years – 1,621

So, to put this in perspective. If you’re a 30-year-old such as myself, over 9,500 of our peers have died; 1,282 of our children are dead, and 1,621 of our parents are gone, all due solely to H1N1 flu. Chances are then, there is someone out there who lost his spouse, child and one parent to this disease. Makes you think twice about not vaccinating no?